The Palos Heights Parks and Recreation Department is accepting registration for an NFL Flag Football League it will sponsor this fall. Coed teams are being formed for youngsters entering grades 3-8. Games will be played on Sundays from Sept. 7-Nov. 2 at Shepard and in-season practices will be conducted one day per week. The cost is $76 for residents, $96 for nonresidents, and the deadline to enter is Aug. 8 unless all spots are filled before that. All participants will receive a team jersey and participation award. Individuals can sign up at the recreation department, 6601 W. 127th St.

Much like a hearty stew, there are a plethora of ingredients — not all of them readily visible — that go into creating a high school sports coach. Just ask a few well-seasoned ones.

Four area leaders who know the recipe quite well won't be around next year, however, to dispense more instructional servings to eager-to-learn student-athletes. Richards' John Chappetto, Oak Lawn's Janet Meyers, Marist's Denise Bromberek and Brother Rice's Paul Ickes all decided that the 2013-14 school year would be the last one in charge of their respective programs.Bromberek completed her final assignment on Saturday, when the Lady RedHawks met Sandburg in a Class 4A sectional title game. The Lady Eagles brought her 12-year softball-coaching tenure at Marist to a halt with a victory.Bromberek, who is moving out of state with her family, has been the Lady RedHawks' only varsity softball coach since Marist went coed. She led the Lady RedHawks to a state championship two years ago.

A future major-league career may or may not be in the offing, but at least for one day some southwest suburban players drew the attention of pro baseball teams.

Major League Baseball’s annual amateur draft took place last week and counted among the first 67 picks was Orland Park native Sam Travis. A Providence Catholic alumnus and junior at Indiana University, Travis was chosen by Boston in the second round. He was at his house watching the draft on the MLB Network with a few family members when he received a phone call from an area scout notifying him of the Red Sox’s intention to select him. “It’s a dream come true [and] I’m very excited,” Travis said. “It’s going to be very exciting to hopefully someday play in one of the most historic ballparks at Fenway.” Travis said he’ll forgo his senior season at IU and join the Red Sox organization. In 2011, Travis was drafted out of high school by Cincinnati in the 40th round after helping Providence place second in Class 4A, but he felt more comfortable enrolling at IU instead of turning professional. “At the time, I thought I needed to mature as a person and mature as a player and work on getting a good education,” Travis said. “Looking back now I don’t regret that decision.” The 6-foot, 210-pound first baseman was a unanimous choice as Big Ten Player of the Year this spring after batting .347 with 12 homers, 58 RBI, 55 runs and eight stolen bases in 13 attempts. Travis fielded his position at a .997 clip.

Providence Catholic turned last Wednesday’s Class 4A Andrew Sectional matchup with Sandburg into a real glove affair. Specifically, Celtics outfielder Phil Kunsa did so with his circus grab of a sinking line drive. Instead of falling into the gap, Peter Paxinos’ hard-hit ball was speared by a diving Kunsa, who snuffed out an Eagles sixth-inning rally that had drawn them within a run. That meant Sandburg was left to chase some more, and it never did catch up. Instead, Providence garnered an insurance marker to finalize a 5-3 victory that advanced it into last Saturday’s sectional final opposite Lincoln-Way North. The Phoenix earned their championship-game berth by blanking Stagg 1-0 in the other semifinal last Wednesday. Lincoln-Way North’s one-run triumph was its third straight in the playoffs, following regional conquests of Shepard (3-2) and Marist (4-3). While Kunsa’s defensive gem provided the obvious highlight, it mattered more because the Celtics (24-14) already had a lead to protect. They built most of that advantage in the third inning by plating four unearned runs off Eagles starter Sean Leland.

Before the 2014 softball season began, Sandburg senior shortstop Cierra Adamus told Lady Eagles coach Jim Fabianski she was going to help lead them to a state title. This past Monday Adamus did her part to ensure that her promise wasn’t hollow. Adamus, who began her high school career at Marian Catholic and spent some time in right field earlier this spring, rose high to snag a seventh-inning line drive and turned it into a game-ending double play by firing to second baseman Bri Soltis.